Face Lift
Our faces are such a big part of our identity; they are in many ways the physical reflection of our personality. Unfortunately, signs of aging in the face can cause you to look less vibrant and energetic than you feel inside. Dr. J. Kevin Duplechain performs facelift for Lafayette, Louisiana women and men who want to take years off of their appearance in a way that is natural and believable.
Dr. Duplechain can help improve the appearance of your face without changing its unique character. He and his staff look forward to helping you turn your aesthetic goals into a reality. If you would like to learn more about face lift surgery or any other procedures we offer, request a consultation online or call our office at (337) 456-3282.
Benefits
Face lift surgery performed by Dr. Duplechain can provide the following benefits:
- Improved appearance in lines & wrinkles of the lower face
- An overall more youthful look
- Improved definition of the jaw line
- Correction of laxity in the neck and jowls
Dr. Duplechain Explains Your
Face Lift Procedure
When I perform face lift for my Louisiana patients, I begin with a consultation in order to understand and learn about their cosmetic desires. I ask patients to bring in pictures of themselves from 10 and 20 years in the past, and then usually a picture of them at about 20 years of age. This allows me to see the aging process as it occurred, and allows me to create a plan that will either restore or improve on their once youthful look.
Facelift surgery is often a difficult decision for many patients, and I will often meet with the patient on two or sometimes three occasions to ensure their needs will be met in the operating room. During the consult, I will review the three key components of the aging face. First, of course, is the laxity that developed as an effect of gravity and aging.
The second key component of aging is the volume loss that many patients develop. This may be a genetic factor, a dietary factor, or even a desire by the patient to be thin. Restoring volume with fat injections is often performed simultaneously during facelift procedure to enhance the natural shape of the face, creating a more oval rather than square look. Pre adipocyte stem cells, harvested from another part of the body, will over time create new fat cells that provide lasting volume and also help rejuvenate the skin.
Finally, no face lift is complete until the skin has at least been considered. I perform CO2 laser resurfacing on most of my patients who are undergoing facelift surgery. The "shrink wrap" effect of the laser creates a smooth, flawless complexion that completes the rejuvenation of the aging face.
When performing facelift surgery, I use the deep plane technique, also referred to as the sub-SMAS technique, which stands for superficial musculo-aponeurotic system. This technique of facelift surgery places less tension on the skin, which results in a more natural appearance compared to other facelift methods. The droopy muscles, however, are placed under significant tension with permanent suture to provide a strong and lasting result.
When performing your facelift procedure, I will begin by creating an incision in the hairline and elevating the skin. From there, I remove any excess fat which may be present in jowls, chin and neck, then tighten the underlying facial and neck muscles. Lastly, any excess skin is removed, and the skin is re-draped, resulting in a smoother appearance. Once this is complete, fat injections and laser resurfacing are performed to polish and refine the contours of the face. Most patients are able to be discharged, but some choose to stay in our overnight facility where a dedicated nurse will attend to your every need.
Recovery & Results
In general, facelift patients should expect to take 2 weeks for recovering. Because the incision is in the hairline, it will be unnoticeable once healing has completed. After your surgery, it will typically take about 10 to 14 days until you are ready to be out socially, but some bruising or swelling may persist for slightly longer. Final results in skin tone and texture are achieved at about 6 months.
